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Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
OLD Mutual Zimbabwe has donated $200 000 to Chimanimani and Chipinge districts for community development as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

The company’s group chief executive officer, Mr Jonas Mushosho, last Friday revealed that out of a total budget of $5,7 million invested in the construction of Kupinga Hydro-power Station, $200 000 was for community development.

“We have lined up various projects which are set to benefit the local community around the hydro-power station,” he said. “Rusitu Business Centre, which had inadequate electricity for its existing infrastructure, had its transformer increased from 25KVA to 50KVA and this development is set to boost business.

“The power will also feed into a busy township in Chimanimani District,” he added. Mr Mushosho said Old Mutual had also partnered with schools to construct infrastructure in Chipinge District.

“The local Steskroom Secondary School, with an enrolment of more than 500 pupils, will also benefit from the project since a state-the-of-art multi-purpose hall was constructed and was commissioned last week.

“We also installed prolific boreholes at the school to ensure adequate water supplies. In addition, containers that were used as storerooms during the construction of the hydro-power station were handed over to the school for use as temporary accommodation,” he said.

In order to improve health facilities, Mr Mushosho said Old Mutual had partnered the Ministry of Health and Child Care by donating money to construct a clinic in Chimanimani. “On health delivery service, Old Mutual has donated $10 000 towards the construction of a clinic for the Saziya community in Chimanimani.”

“This money came from staff donations. To date, we have sunk 10 boreholes at rural clinics in these two districts. This has greatly improved the clinics, especially in maternal wards,” said Mr Mushosho.

An elated Headman Saziya of Chimanimani hailed Old Mutual for donating money for the construction of a clinic in his area. “Walking for long distances to access health facilities will soon be a thing of the past as we will receive $10 000 for the construction of our clinic. “We want to thank Old Mutual for rescuing us.

“As the local leadership, we will jealously guard the hydro-power project which was constructed by Old Mutual together with Kupinga Energy Resource.

“This is will benefit us as the local community,” he said.